Container base with straps and diaphragm

Abstract

A polymeric container including a base that moves inward toward the finish from an as-blown configuration to a post-fill, post vacuum configuration after the container has been filled and capped to generate a vacuum therein. In the as-blown configuration a diaphragm is linear in cross-section. In the post-fill, post-vacuum configuration the diaphragm is concave relative to an outer surface of the base. As the base moves inward from the as-blown configuration to the post-fill, post vacuum configuration, an angle of intersection between an outer standing surface and a heel decreases as vacuum in the container increases and a pushup portion moves inward towards a finish of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymeric container comprising:
 a finish defining an opening of the container;   a body defining a portion of an internal volume of the container, the body including a sidewall; and   a base including:
 a pushup portion at an axial center of the base; 
 an outer standing surface; 
 a heel extending from the outer standing surface to the sidewall; 
 a plurality of straps spaced apart about the outer standing surface; and 
 a diaphragm extending from the outer standing surface to the pushup portion; 
   wherein:
 the base moves inward toward the finish from an as-blown configuration to a post-fill, post vacuum configuration after the container has been filled and capped to generate a vacuum therein; 
 in the as-blown configuration the diaphragm is linear in cross-section; 
 in the post-fill, post-vacuum configuration the diaphragm is concave relative to an outer surface of the base; and 
 as the base moves inward from the as-blown configuration to the post-fill, post vacuum configuration, an angle of intersection between the outer standing surface and the heel decreases as vacuum in the container increases and the pushup portion moves inward towards the finish. 
   
     
     
         2 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric container is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         3 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric container is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         4 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric container includes up to 100% recycled material. 
     
     
         5 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm includes an outer textured surface. 
     
     
         6 . The polymeric container of  claim 5 , wherein the outer textured surface includes a triangle-shaped texture. 
     
     
         7 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is interrupted by the plurality of straps at an outer circumference of the diaphragm. 
     
     
         8 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein in the as-blown configuration, the diaphragm is angled inward at 5.25°. 
     
     
         9 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm has a shallow inset from the heel of 1 mm to 5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein a radius of the heel increases as vacuum in the container increases and the pushup portion moves inward towards the finish. 
     
     
         11 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to undergo a 4% reduction in the internal volume after being cold-filled with a product. 
     
     
         12 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of straps has a truncated oval shape. 
     
     
         13 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps consists of five straps. 
     
     
         14 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of straps extends outward from the diaphragm to a heel of the polymeric container at an angle of from 4° to 8° in the as-blown configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein in the post-fill, post-vacuum configuration each one of the plurality of straps extends outward from the diaphragm to the heel of the polymeric container at an angle of from −4° to −8°. 
     
     
         16 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps interrupt the heel around a circumference of the heel. 
     
     
         17 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the pushup portion is configured as a truncated cone when viewed in cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the pushup portion includes a plurality of protrusions; and
 wherein each one of the plurality of protrusions is aligned with one of the plurality of straps.   
     
     
         19 . The polymeric container of  claim 18 , wherein the base includes an equal number of the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of straps. 
     
     
         20 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein an innermost part of the pushup portion is recessed inward from the outer standing surface towards the finish at a clearance of 5% to 6% of an overall height of the polymeric container. 
     
     
         21 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the pushup portion has a rigidity that is greater than a remainder of the base. 
     
     
         22 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps have a strap surface area that is 21%-32% of a total base surface area of the base. 
     
     
         23 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm has a diaphragm surface area that is 38%-46% of a total base surface area of the base. 
     
     
         24 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the pushup portion has a pushup surface area that is 20%-29% of a total base surface area of the base. 
     
     
         25 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the standing ring has a ring surface area that is 6%-13% of a total base surface area of the base. 
     
     
         26 . The polymeric container of  claim 1 , wherein the base is circular.